Bed-bottom fabric.



A. RHENSTROM.

BED BOTTOM FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN.18, 191s.

1,089,1 55. 1 Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

ANTHONY RHENSTROM, 0F KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE VINCENT- ALWARID COMPANY, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

BED-BOTTOM FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Serial No. 742,772.

To all re/10m. it 'nm com-cm Be it known tllfltLr-lN'lHONY Rnnxsrnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of di isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Bottom Fabrics. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire fabrics and particularly to fabrics for spring bed bottoms.

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of a fabric having a substantially plane upper surface, possessing an apparent and actual increased strength, atfording an extended mattress supporting area, proof against distortion of the links by longitudinal or transverse strains and the entanglement or displacement of the cross links, and one which shall possess in the highest degree the attributes of efficiency and low cost of manufacture. In bed bottom fabrics of this general type comprising longitudinally extending chains composed of links hooked one into another and having at their heads loops for engagement by cross links, the difficulty has been encountered that in use the longitudinally extending links and cross links have a tendency to back out of the loops and thus become entangled or entirely disconnected. The effort to guard against this difficulty has led to the bending of the looped end upon itself to form a cross bar at the head beyond the loop. This entails, however, a double bending and consequent weakening of the wire at that point, and moreover the longitudinal stresses tend to open out the looped end and again permit entanglement and disengagement of the links composing the fabric. It is also customary to so form the links that the two reaches of wire extending from the loops to the hooks of the link will lie closely adjacent each other in parallel relation, but they tend to spread unevenly under transverse strain.

According to the present invention the link is formed by bending the wire length to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops lying in substantially one horizontal plane and at each extremity with a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending between the loops and hooks in spaced parallel relation, one above and the other below the cross bar. The head of the link is then preferably subjected to pressure whereby to bend the underlying member dOWIlWZII'Clly at the point of intersection of the cross bar and. reaches to provide a recess, in which recess the overlying member is wholly received, the result being a link in which the upper faces of the several members of the head occupy a common plane and in which the members are also interlocked against the opening of the loops under longitudinal strain and against distortion of the spaced pa 'allel relation of the two reaches of wire under transverse strain. Communication between the two loops is also closed by the recessed engagement of the intersecting members and displacement of the cross links is thus precluded and entanglement of the fabric effectually prevented. The spaced relation of the wire reaches is preferably such that the longitudinal axes include substantially the transverse axes of the loops. This adds materially to the strength of the fabric as a whole and better distributes the supporting wire beneath the mattress while it also enhances the appearance of strength in the fabric and thereby promotes its salability.

It is obvious that modifications as to details may be adopted without departing from the spirit and essence of the invention which is not limited to the precise form or construction illust 'ated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a bed bottom fabric embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is asection on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the links showing the manner of connecting longitudinally and transversely adjacent links in the fabric;

and Fig. 5 is a detai view of one of the cross links.

The fabric is made up as a whole of longitudinally extending parallel chains which chains are composed of individual links des ignated generally as 12 and which will later be described in detail. The transversely adjacent links of the longitudinal chains are connected by cross links 13 of the form of construction now in general use in this art. By reference to Fig. 1, in which one of the links 12 is shown upon an enlarged scale, it will be seen that each of these links is formed by bending a length of wire upon itself so as to form in its medial portion a cross bar 14, having laterally extending loops 15 and 16 which latter lie in one horizontal plane. The end portions of the wire are then further bent inwardly one extending beneath the cross bar 14 and the other above the same, and after the completion of the loop these two portions extend in unbroken reaches 17 and 18 respectively in spaced parallel relation terminating in downwardly bent hooks 19 and 20. The bending of the wire to complete the loops 15 and 16 is preferably continued as indicated in the drawing until a point is reached in longitudinal alinement with the transverse axes of the loops l5 and 16, from which point the reaches 17 and 18 extend in this spaced relation. Thus the reaches 17 and 18 are in longitudinal alinement respectively with the corresponding reaches of adj acent links in the chain, and the longitudinal axes of the reaches include the transverse axes of the loops. After the link is formed, as stated, the head of the same is subjected to vertical pressure whereby the underlying cross bar is deflected downwardly, as indicated at 21, to provide a recess 22 within which the overlying reach 18 is wholly received and likewise the underlying reach 17 is deflected downwardly, as indicated at 23, to provide the recess 24 within which the overlying cross bar 14 is wholly received, the result being that the upper faces of the loops 15 and 16, the cross bar 14 and the reaches 17 and 18 occupy substantially a common horizontal plane. In the making of the fabric the hooks 19 and 20 of one link are engaged within the respective loops l5 and 16 of another link to form longitudinally extending parallel chains, and the loop 16 of one such chain is connected with the loop 15 of a transversely adjacent link of a parallel chain by the terminal hooks of cross links 13, the several hooks being closed in any suitable manner as by pressure so as to prevent their disengagement. The result as will be readily seen, is a fabric in which the supporting longitudinally extending wires are distributed over a greater area than when the reaches of the links occupy a position closely adjacent to each other, thus afiording a more extended area of support for the mattress. The several reaches of wire in the longitudinal chains being in alinement with each other and with the transverse axes of the loops, longitudinal stresses are taken care of in a more eflicient manner and the actual and apparent stability of the mattress is enhanced. The cross bar of the looped head of the link, being interlocked by extending above and below the reaches of wire, is effectually prevented from opening under longitudinal strains and the recessed construc tion provides an interlocking of the members at their points of intersection which effectually prevents the disengagement of the hooks from their proper loops. The seating of the cross bar 14 within the recess 24 of the reach 17, for instance, eifectually prevents the hook of the cross link 13 from shifting to the right out of the loop 15 along the cross bar 14 and the seating of the reach 18 within the recess 22 of the cross bar 14 similarly precludes the shifting of the cross link 13 out of the loop 16 along the said cross bar 14 so that the disengagement or entanglement of the several interengaging longi tudinal and cross links is efiectually prevented.

I claim:

1. In a wire fabric, a link unit comprising a length-of wire bent in its medial portion to provide at one end of the link a transverse cross-bar and a pair of loops, and bent at its two extremities to provide at the other end of the link a pair of hooks, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below and at substantially right angles to the crossbar and the two loops arranged exterior to the cross bar and the two reaches of wire, substantially as described.

2. In a. wire fabric, a link unit comprising a length of wire bent in its medial portion to provide at one end of the link a transverse crossbar and a pair of loops, and bent at its two extremities to provide at the other end of the link a pair of hooks, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below and at substantially right angles to the crossbar and thence in substantially parallel relation and the two loops arranged exterior to the cross bar and the two reaches of wire, substantially as described.

3. A wire fabric comprising rows of links, each link having two substantially straight limbs provided with hooks at their free ends and at their other ends connected by a sub stantially straight cross bar with a pair of loops exterior to the limbs and bar, the hooks of one link engaging within the respective loops of the next adjacent link, and transversely arranged means connecting the loops of adjacent links in contiguous rows, substantially as described.

4. A wire fabric comprising rows of links, each link having two substantially straight limbs provided with hooks at their free ends and at their other ends connected by a substantially straight cross bar with a pair of loops exterior to the limbs and bar, the two limbs lying respectively above and below the cross bar at the point of intersection, the hooks of one link engaging within the respective loops of the next adjacent link, and transversely arranged means connecting the loops of adjacent links in contiguous rows, substantially as described.

In a wire fabric, a link unit comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops lying in substantially one horizontal plane and provided at each extremity with a, hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending in spaced substantially parallel relation, the underlying wire member atthe point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches bent down wardly to provide a recess for the reception of the overlying member whereby to present an upper substantially plane surface, sub stantially as described.

6. In a wire fabric, a link unit comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops and provided at each extremity with a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below the cross bar, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches recessed for the reception of the overlying member whereby to provide an upper substantially plane surface, substantially as described.

7. In a wire fabric, a link unit comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops and provided at each extremity with a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below the cross bar and thence in spaced substantially parallel relation, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches recessed for the reception of the overlying member whereby to provide an upper substantially plane surface, substantially as de scribed.

S. in a wire fabric, a link unit compris ing a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops lying in substantially one horizontal plane and provided at each extremity with a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire intersecting the cross bar and extending thence in spaced substantially parallel relation, the transverse axes of the loops lying substantially in the longitudinal axes of the reaches, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches bent downwardly to provide a recess for the reception of the overlying member whereby to present an upper substantially plane surface, substantially described.

9. In a wire fabric, a link unit comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops lying in substantially one horizontal plane and provided at each extremity with a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire. extending one above and the other below the cross bar and thence in spaced substantially parallel relation, the transverse axes of the loops included substantially in the longitudinal axes of the reaches, the underlying wire men'iber at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches bent downwardly to provide a recess for the reception of the overlying member whereby to present an upper substantially plane surface, substantially as described.

10. In a wire fabric, link units each comprising a. length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops lying in substantially one horizontal plane and at each extremity a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire intersecting the cross bar and extei'iding thence in spaced substantially parallel relation, the loops juxtaposed and the transverse axes of the loops lying sul'istantially in the longitudinal axes of the reaches, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches bent downwardly to provide a recess for the reception of the overlying member whereby to present an upper sub stantially plane surface, substantially as described.

11. In a wire fabric. link units each comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops and at each extremity a hook, the two interl'nediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below and at substantially right angles to the cross bar, the hooks of one link engaged within the respective loops of the adjacent link to form longitudinally extending chains, and hooked cross links connecting the loops of transversely adjacent links of parallel chains to complete the fabric, substantially as described.

12. In a wire fabric, link units each comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial'portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops and at each extremity a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below and at substantially right angles to the cross bar, and thence in spaced substan tially parallel relation, the hooks of one link engaged within the respective loops of the adjacent link to form longitudinally extending chains, and hooked cross links connecting the loops of transversely adjacentlinks of parallel chains to complete the fabric, substantially as described.

13. In a wire fabric, link units each comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of later ally extending loops lying in substantially one horizontal plane and at each extremity a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending in spaced substantially parallel relation, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches bent downwardly to provide a recess for the reception of the overlying member whereby to present an upper substantially plane surface, the hooks of one link engaged within the respective loops of the adjacent link to form longitudinally eX tending chains, and hooked cross links connecting the loops of transversely adjacent links of parallel chains to complete the fab ric, substantially as described.

let. In a wire fabric, link units each comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops and at each extremity a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire extending one above and the other below the cross bar, and thence in spaced substantially parallel relation, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches re cessed for the reception o1"- the overlying member whereby to provide an upper substantially plane surface, the hooks of one link engaged within the respective loops of the adjacent link to form longitudinally ex- 1 tending chains, and hooked cross links connecting the loops of transversely adjacent links of parallel chains to complete the fab ric, substantially as described.

15. In a wire fabric, link units each comprising a length of wire bent to provide in its medial portion a cross bar and a pair of laterally extending loops lying in substan tially one horizontal plane and at each extremity a hook, the two intermediate reaches of wire intersecting the crbss bar and extending thence in spaced substantially parallel relation, the loops juxtaposed and the transverse axes of the loops lying substantially in the longitudinal axes of the reaches, the underlying wire member at the point of intersection of the cross bar and reaches bent downwardly to provide a recess for the reception of the overlying member whereby to present an upper substantially plane surface, the hooks of one link engaged within the respective loops of the adjacent link to form longitudinally extending chains, and hooked cross links connecting the loops of transversely adjacent links of parallel chains to complete the fabric, substantially as described.

ANTHONY RHENSTROM. Witnesses:

ALVAREZ A. BARNES. T. D. Btrnnn,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commiuloner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

